So here we are again! Thank goodness for TNC to keep us sane and well watered!
First up the Pax North Coast Syrah 2018 from California. This is the first in the serious of the ‘celebrity mixed case’ from new online retailer The Sorting Table, whereby a famous winemaker puts together six of his favourite wines. This particular case is curated by famous American winemaker Rajat Parr. The nose was absolutely stunning; so perfumed with expressive notes of blue and blackberries with hints of smoky game and black pepper. The palate had very fine, grippy tannins, with crunchy pomegranate and lots of savoury spice, liquorice and black pepper. At first the finish was quite astringent and lacked the fruit to balance such a savoury profile, but when I revisited the wine 24 hours later it was far more fruit forward and accessible. Definitely one that needs a fair bit of decanting. The Sorting Table £35
Saint Mont Les Vignes Retrouvee 2018, Gascony, France. Another little gem found in the Wine Society Regional Awards case from the delicious Grand Manseng grape variety. Really tasting good with a hind of lychee, peach and nectarine. More body than they were expecting and a really good acidity with a lovely satin like texture. Definitely a region to keep exploring for great value and exciting whites. The Wine Society £8.95
Bin #001 Altolandon Bobal 2017, Spain. He discovered this grape variety in the summer with Thursday Night Club and has been really impressed by the quality and value. This is a lovely rich herby, spicy red that, as it turns out, is perfect with sausage casserole. Will definitely continue to explore more examples of this delicious Spanish red grape. The Wine Society, current vintage 2018, £8.95
Some Young Punks Sangiovese/Syrah 2017, Clare Valley, Australia. His sister lives in Australia and sent a bottle over years ago which he loved. He recently found a bottle here and was unfortunately a little disappointed. It shows a lot of the savoury Sangiovese notes on the nose, with a leathery/peppery palate that is showing more tertiary than primary characteristics. Lacking some fruit depth on the palate. The label however is brilliant. All About Wine £15
Jeanne Gaillard Marsanne 2010, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, France. This was tucked away at the back of the cellar and what a find it is, though sadly the only bottle. Jeanne is the daughter of the famous Northern Rhone vigneron Pierre Gaillard and is making some delicious single varietal wines in her own right. This IGP classification corresponds with the area of the Northern Rhone. Marsanne is a white grape most often seen blended with Rousanne in the Rhone to form white Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage and St Joseph. This is both an unusual and a hugely impressive wine. Fresh and understated with subtle apples and pears, textural and intriguing with lovely depth and length. Street Wines current vintage 2016 £15
Tesco Finest Picpoul de Pinet 2019, Languedoc, France. This has come recommended both in the press and by a friend and it also fits the quest to keep bringing new grapes to wine club. Great with fish, with its lemony, zesty and clean palate. On its own possibly a touch acidic but this is definitely a ‘go to wine’ when looking for something fresh and white. Tesco £7.50
Franc, Cabernet Franc 2019, Elgin, South Africa. This is proving a tough one to get your head around. It is light and tangy with a real cranberry bite and it doesn’t have bags of fruit which makes it quite hard work to enjoy. As the volume in the bottle reduces you do begin to come to terms with the style a little more but it is definitely in the ‘funkier’ style of natural wines and has quite a hard acidity. It is probably not a style she will be seeking out again, preferring a bit more depth and body to her reds. Philglas and Swiggot £19.50
Maison Guillot Brut Macon Villages 2018 are one of the earliest proponents of organic viticulture in Burgundy adopting it in 1954. The current generation of the family making the wines trained in Meursault and unsurprisingly they are producing a style of Macon that is richer, more textural and more sophisticated than many in the region. All About Wine £16.50